Cardinal Tumi’s radio station closed down

Radio Veritas, a private radio station in Cameroon set up by Cardinal Christian Tumi who is a harsh critic of President Paul Biya's government, has been closed after a two-week trial period for failing to meet the licensing criteria.

The Paris-based press freedom group, Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF), in a statement on Tuesday described the closure as "a political measure".

RSF said Veritas, which has been broadcasting in the economic hub, Douala, was put off air because it threatened the ruling establishment.

"How is it that within a few weeks, the authorities has granted licensing to some broadcasters but banned Cardinal Tumi from broadcasting," RSF secretary-general, Robert Menard, said in the statement.

RSF had previously expressed concern at the Cameroonian government's closure of two privately owned television stations, RTA and Canal 2, early this year and of Freedom FM on 23 May. It said the closures were designed to dampen media criticism of President Paul Biya and his government in the run-up to next year's presidential elections.

Cardinal Tumi, whose criticism of Biya's 21-year rule has put him at loggerheads with the establishment, has publicly hinted that he could run for the presidency in elections due in October 2004.

Biya has not indicated whether he will stand or not in next year's elections, but analysts believe he may seek another term. In by-elections held in 2002, Biya's ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) won 16 out of 17 parliamentary seats. The poll was widely criticised for irregularities.